Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
Bacterial Vaginosis affects girls only.
Symptoms
BV causes an abnormal vaginal discharge (eg. unusual smelly yellow fluid) in girls, due to bacteria in the vagina. It’s also linked to complications in pregnancy, including premature birth.
How do you get it?
Girls who have had sex do get BV. BV is not classified as a sexually transmitted infection but it can be associated with sexual activity.
Factors which increase the chance of getting BV are:
- a recent change in sexual partner
- having had many sexual partners
- having sex at a young age, and
- vaginal douching (spraying water up into the vagina).
What’s the treatment?
BV can be treated and cured with vaginal creams or antibiotic tablets.
What to do
For advice, see your local doctor, family planning clinic or sexual health clinic.
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